Witness to the Light with Joy
Notes
Transcript
Trouble in the Text: People are confused about John’s identity.
Notes:
A later reflection on John the Baptist: his mission & position before Jesus.
A later reflection on John the Baptist: his mission & position before Jesus.
The Gospel of John was written ~60 years after the Crucifixion & Resurrection.
John was defined by what he was not:
John was defined by what he was not:
Not the Light
Not the Messiah
Not Elijah
Not the Prophet proclaiming the Last Day of the Lord
Not Worthy to serve the Light
Not a Priest or officially recognized Prophet
Thought not even worthy to baptize (reserved for recognized priests and prophets)
The people who were called were not prepared to receive Christ.
The people who were called were not prepared to receive Christ.
The Great Irony is that the people who were taught to be prepared to receive Christ did not recognize him.
No One was worthy to receive Christ, and the way needed to be prepared.
This is not GOOD News to Everyone!
This is not GOOD News to Everyone!
We are not prepared to receive Christ among us until we hear the Good News.
We are not prepared to receive Christ among us until we hear the Good News.
Sometimes, we just don’t feel prepared to receive Christ among us or hear the Good News.
And, our ability to bear witness to the one who brings Light and Joy is in question.
Trouble in the World: Often, the authority of our witness is in question.
Notes:
Being prepared for any situation is always a continual act of learning.
Being prepared for any situation is always a continual act of learning.
In scouting programs, there is a process of learning more to develop new survival skills.
In education programs, there is a process of gaining knowledge so that when working in a field of study we might gain wisdom in its application.
We never know what may happen in the future, and we must learn from the wisdom of others.
We usually try to learn from those who seem the most knowledgeable,
We usually try to learn from those who seem the most knowledgeable,
the most respected, or most rewarded for their work, but some knowledge comes from the humble. (farmers, ranchers, plumbers, and carpenters)
But, we must ask ourselves, “What if know one who was alive has learned of this?” “Where does our learning come from?”
We may say that something will happen and call for action on the part of others, but where do we get the knowledge and wisdom that those actions are necessary?
When we say something out of the ordinary or without recognized authority, our witness comes into question.
When we say something out of the ordinary or without recognized authority, our witness comes into question.
If our witness is in question, then our motives are brought into question.
We are asked “who do we think you are?” and “why then do you…?”
The Pharisees and Priests asked John “who are you?” and “why then do you?”
The Pharisees and Priests asked John “who are you?” and “why then do you?”
John needed to know who he was and why he was doing it.
Even if that answer brought on his own early death.
We to need to know what we are and why we are doing what we do.
We to need to know what we are and why we are doing what we do.
Grace in the Text: John bears witness to Jesus as the true Light of God.
Notes:
John was defined by what he did.
John was defined by what he did.
John was called the Baptist because he baptized, he called himself a witness because he witnessed.
Later, John was confessed by the church to be “sent from God” & “a witness to testify… so that through him all might believe.” (vss. 6-7)
John the Baptist’s mission was to be a witness to the Light of World, Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist’s mission was to be a witness to the Light of World, Jesus Christ.
Vs. 9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
Vs. 23 “In the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
John baptized with water, the outward sign of the cleansing that comes through confession by us and forgiveness by God.
John baptized with water, the outward sign of the cleansing that comes through confession by us and forgiveness by God.
God’s grace is poured over them as they confess their sins and recognize God’s authority.
Vs. 16 “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”
A shadow of grace was given to Moses, the moral Law of God.
But, the fullness of “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (vs. 17)
This is what it means by “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling [or tabernacle] among us… the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (vs. 14)
Jesus is the Final Authority in knowing the Father & bearing witness to the Father.
Jesus is the Final Authority in knowing the Father & bearing witness to the Father.
The Word (Logos) is a real Person who came in the Flesh, Jesus Christ.
Not some ethereal spirit of wisdom that can only be grasped by the more educated (spiritual elite)
To believe in the Name of Jesus is to believe in the meaning of his name.
Jesus or Yeshua (Yehoshua/Joshua) means “to rescue,” “to deliver,” “to save.”
Jesus or Yeshua (Yehoshua/Joshua) means “to rescue,” “to deliver,” “to save.”
Jesus defined his ministry as finishing the work of the Father
Jesus defined his ministry as finishing the work of the Father
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
To believe in His Name is “to entrust oneself to who he is and what he stands for.”
To believe in His Name is “to entrust oneself to who he is and what he stands for.”
To trust that Jesus Rescues us, Delivers us, and Saves us from all sin and evil.
To believe in Him is to Receive, the Savior, the True Light of the World.
Knowing that we will be rescued, delivered, and saved from evil gives us real Joy.
Knowing that we will be rescued, delivered, and saved from evil gives us real Joy.
Grace in the World: God sends out witnesses of Jesus as Savior and the true Light. In this mission, we find Joy.
Notes:
If we are to be defined by what we do and why we do it, then we can act like John.
If we are to be defined by what we do and why we do it, then we can act like John.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to be sent out because of what we believe.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to be sent out because of what we believe.
We are given a mission, a purpose in life to join with God in making all things and people new, by His authority and grace in Jesus Christ.
Those who believe are also called to:
Those who believe are also called to:
Give Witness to the Good News of God,
Bind Up the Brokenhearted,
Proclaim Freedom for the Captives,
Release for the Prisoner,
Proclaim the Year of the Lord’s Favor for those who believe,
AND the Day of Vengeance of our God upon all sin and evil.
This Good News is for Everyone! If Only they would Believe!
This Good News is for Everyone! If Only they would Believe!
In this way, we prepare the way of the Savior, the True Light of the World with great Joy.
If you have been called a child of God, will you give Jesus Christ to your neighbor that they might know what real Joy is this Christmas?